Electrostatic printing system employing a replaceable cartridge to provide a supply of a recording element and processing means therefor

ABSTRACT

A replaceable cartridge, adapted to be removably installed in an electrostatic printing system, provides a supply of a recording element and charging, developing, and cutting means therefor. Means are provided to convey and to guide the recording element through the cartridge along a path including charging, image exposing, developing, and cutting stations.



1. A replaceable cartridge for an electrostatic printing system of the type wherein a recording element is moved, by drive means disposed in said system and external to said replaceable cartridge along a continuous path through said cartridge, said path including at least an image exposing station and a developing station, said cartridge comprising: a storage section comprising means to store a supply of said recording element, guide means disposed in said cartridge and engageable with said recording element and said drive means for cooperating therewith to guide and to move said recording element along said path only when said cartridge is installed in said system, whereby charge patterns can be formed on said recording element at said image exposing station, said drive means being separate and detached from said recording element and said guide means when said cartridge is removed from said system, and a developer section comprising means to develop said charge patterns at said developing station.
 2. A replaceable cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein said path through said cartridge comprises, in addition, a charging station, a portion of said path including said charging station being in said storage section, a wire disposed in said storage section adjacent said charging station, a source of voltage disposed in said system but external to said cartridge, and means on said cartridge and connected to said wire for applying said source of voltage to said cartridge only when said cartridge is installed in said system, whereby to cause a corona discharge about said wire to charge said recording element at said charging station.
 3. A replaceable cartridge as described in claim 1, said path through said cartridge including, in addition, a cutting station located past said dEveloping station, and said cartridge comprising, in addition, cutting means disposed between said storage section and said developer section for cutting said recording element at said cutting station after said recording element has been developed.
 4. A replaceable cartridge as described in claim 1, said path through said cartridge including, in addition, a charging station and a cutting station, said storage section including said charging station and having a wire adjacent to said charging station for providing a corona discharge at said charging station, said cutting station being located along said path, past said developing station and between said storage section and said developer section, and cutting means disposed between said storage section and said developer section to cut said recording element at said cutting station after said recording element has been developed.
 5. A replaceable cartridge for an electrostatic printing system comprising: a developer section, and a recording-element storage section disposed on, and removably fastened to, said developer section, said storage section comprising a compartment for a recording element, said developer section comprising a reservoir compartment for a liquid developer and pump means disposed in said cartridge for pumping, when actuated, said liquid developer to said recording element, and said pump means comprising means to couple power drive means disposed in said system and external to said cartridge to said pump means to actuate said pump means only when said cartridge is installed in said system.
 6. A replaceable cartridge as described in claim 5, comprising, in addition: at least one roller being disposed in said storage section for guiding said recording element along a processing path, said storage section having a rear wall with an opening therein adjacent said roller, whereby to expose a portion of said recording element for providing charge patterns thereon, and said processing path of said recording element extending between said storage and said developer sections.
 7. In an electrostatic printing system of the type wherein a recording element is moved along a continuous path, through said cartridge, including a charging station, an exposing station, and a developing station, the improvement comprising, in combination: a replaceable cartridge adapted to be removably installed in said system, said cartridge having a storage section for storing a supply of said recording element, said cartridge including said path and said stations, drive means in said system, external to said cartridge, adapted to engage said recording element, for moving it along said path, only when said cartridge is installed in said system, exposure means in said system adapted to expose said recording element to provide charge patterns thereon at said exposure station only when said cartridge is installed in said system, said cartridge having a developer section for developer and means, when actuated, for developing said charge patterns on said recording element, and said drive means being adapted to be coupled to said means for developing said charge patterns only when said cartridge is installed in said system.
 8. In an electrostatic printing system of the type described in claim 7, said combination comprising, in addition: charging means disposed in said storage section of said cartridge for charging said recording element when energized from an energy source in said system and external to said cartridge. 